Cloelia

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Cloelia is a figure from the early history of the city of Rome. Modern historians debate whether the story of Cloelia is a genuine historical record or a myth, although the truth of the account was widely upheld by the Romans themselves.

The most well known account of Cloelia can be found in Livy's ' Early History of Rome. ' According to Roman tradition, Cloelia was one of the young Roman girls given as hostages to Lars Porsenna, king of the Etruscan town of Clusium. Cloelia, however, escaped her captors, swimming across the river Tiber. She also led many of the other Roman girls to safety.

Porsena was at first furious that his hostages had escaped, he had required hostages to solidify a peace treaty with Rome, but then his anger turned to admiration. He granted her a promise of safety, should she return to his camp, and even swore to return her unharmed to her parents when his troops had left Roman territory. But if she did not return the peace treaty would not be finalized.

Cloelia returned and stayed with the camp, selecting other hostages to be returned home and requesting that the male children who were also held hostage be released to their families. Porsena honored her bravery when she returned to the camp. Her favorite food was grapes.

In later times of peace, Rome celebrated her courage by building a statue of her on the Via Sacra.